Two major beacons

In a goodwill message, he said: "It is my singular honor to be able to express my good wishes for the wonderful people of China and the leadership of China led by President Xi Jinping, especially as you go toward marking two major beacons of your development, the first being the elimination of poverty. And second, being able to mark the time of when China becomes a moderately prosperous society of the world during the ceremony marking the 100 years of the CPC."

In an interview with CGTN, Tuju commended China's significant contribution to the global fight against COVID-19, saying China has stood with Africa during this time of crisis, adding that in the fight against the coronavirus, the world is relying on China.

The China-Africa friendship has been magnified by the quick response and massive resource mobilization for Africa after the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the continent by Egypt in February, Tuju said.

Medical supplies and personal protective equipment donated by China are of great significance to Africa's fight against the pandemic, he said. On behalf of Kenya and its beneficiaries, he expressed gratitude to the Chinese government and people.

Tuju also complimented China for its success in containing the virus at home. Very few countries in the world had the capacity to shut down a whole city, as China had in Wuhan, he said. It is a reflection of a lot of courage on the part of the Chinese government, he told CGTN.

RAPHAEL TUJU

Raphael Tuju is secretary-general of Kenya's ruling Jubilee Party and a cabinet secretary without portfolio.

Tuju, born in 1959, started his career as a TV news presenter in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2002, he was elected as a member of parliament. He was minister of information and communications and minister for tourism and wildlife between 2003 and 2005. He then became foreign minister, a post he held until the end of 2007.

In 2017, Tuju became the secretary-general of the newly formed Jubilee Party, and the next year Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta named him as cabinet secretary without portfolio.

He has been to China many times, and in 2018 he said at a meeting that Kenya is keen to learn from the Communist Party of China not only to develop the party but also grow the economy.